The Argus
28/ 4/1881
... part of the KellyGang story
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There are two points in connexion with the Kelly capture besides the questions arising out of the distribution of the reward, to which the Government should give its attention. The first is the case of Mrs Sherritt, the widow of the police agent whom the outlaws murdered on the eve of their descent upon Glenrowan. As recently announced, an allowance has been granted to Mrs Sherritt at the rate of 10s per week - an inadequate sum, it must be admitted, for a woman's maintenance Mrs Sherritt has made complaints on the subject, which are supported by the local press, and public opinion, we believe, goes in the same direction. The young woman has been deprived of her husband and thrown upon the world, and for the present, at all events, she is unable to earn her own living. As the Government was well served by Sherritt, and as he lost his life while in the performance of his duty, it is only light that his widow should be provided for, while at the same time the provision made should be such as to give no just cause for dissatisfaction, or at a future time the police may experience a difficulty in finding agents for services involving, danger to life. It would be unreasonable of course, for Mrs Sherritt to expect to be maintained in ease and comfort for the rest of her days, but as long as she is dependent upon her own exertions for her livelihood, she is entitled, we think, to substantial assistance from the state.
We should therefore like to see the present allowance increased to say £1 per week, payable during good behavior, and as long as the pensioner remained unmarried. Such an arrangement, we think, would be regarded as equitable, and would probably give satisfaction to the person chiefly concerned.
The second point to which we desire to direct attention is the conduct of the police who occupied Aaron Sherritt's hut on the night of the murder. The reports published at the time challenged both the courage and the discretion of these men, and their proceedings are again brought under review by the publication of further accounts of the tragedy which was enacted in their presence. The Chief Secretary confessed at the time that the conduct of the police required explanation, and a promise was given that the matter should be inquired into. No investigation, however, has taken place, or, if it has, the result has not been made public. Perhaps it was intended that the matter should be dealt with by the Police Commission, and, if so, we trust that the commission will not lose sight of it.
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